Tractor



Aug. 27, 1935.

` TRACTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1932 I|||| lllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIHIIIIIIIlIlI 1||||| Illljllll L@ G. W. HOPKINS, JR.. ET AL 8 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TORS. A

George W. Hopkins Jr: Elmer E. Wlckershdm TTORN.

Aug. 27, 1935. G. w. HOPKINS, JR., r-:T AL 2,012,510

TRACTOR Filed 1380.9, 1932 e sheets-sheet 2 WIM* Il Q Q i 'xi gr By Elmer E Wickersham /y ATToR 'Ex Gorqe W Hopkins J l Aug. 27, 1935.

G. w. HOPKINS, JR., ET AL. 2,012,510

TRACTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. George W Hopkins J5 Elmer E. Wlckers/zam A ToRA/E/if.i

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Y Aug. 27, 1935.

G. W. HOPKINS, JR., ET AL TRACTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToRs. George |W Hopkins Jl: By Elmer E. Wieke/*sham Aug. 27, 1935.

G, W. HoPKlNs, JR., ET Al. 2,012,510

TRACTOR Filed Deo. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m m k r, FM m|.. N Pm N I ,I O NI IHMH FVL H m W WWW T e E m. r o e V1 B mi M NS `Q N. QQ KS .MS \M\ n b5 r. i

- Aiug. 27, 1935. G. w. HOPKINS, JR., Er AL 2,012,510

TRACTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 lOl l /la N5, lle.1 117) I. I i l lull. .l 3| l um INVENTORS.

Gear-qc I/V. Hopk/ns Jh BY Elmer E. Wlckersham I Aug. 27, 1935. G. w. HOPKINS, JR., Er AL f 2,012,510

TRACTOR i Filed Dec. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 E :E lll: I E lE.. ILS ll 'E l "37 l5/ [60 ,59 INVENToRs.

. Georg@A W. Hopkins Jr: l By Elmer E. W/ckerha'm :ET gli l TORNEV" Aug. 27, 1935. G. w. HoPK|Ns, JR., ET AL 2,012,510

TRACTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS. George W Hopkins Jl. E//rrzr E. Makers/1am Patented Aug. 27, 1935 l UNITED STATES PATENT orifice Y Tmw'ron George W. Hopkins, Jr.

, and Elmer E. Wickersham, San Leandro, Calif., asslgnors to Caterpillar Tractor Co., San Leandro, Calif., a corporation oi California Application December 9,

8 Claims.

5 which carry the weight of the machine be supsprings for the operating lever.

plied with adequate lubrication at all times. Manual lubrication of these parts is unsatisfactory and unreliable and impractical because frequency of lubrication is an important factor. The problem of providing an automatic system 1932, SerlalNo. 646,462

(CLA 184-7) Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line I3-I3 in Fig. 12.

' Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line lG-IB in Fig. l2.

Fig. 15 is a section through the track roller frame assembly taken on the line lS-IS in Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement of the pump inlet port and discharge line.

General arrangement (Figs. 1 to 7) of lubrication for these parts is complicated by the fact that they are movable relatively to the main frame or power plant of the tractor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved system for lubricating the bearing parts of the track roller frame assembly of a tracktype tractorwhich will be entirely mechanical in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved system for lubricating the bearing parts of the track roller frame assembly oi a track-type tractor which consists of a unitary device mounted on the track roller frame which does not require any connection to the power plant of the tractor other than a simple mechanical connection to the track driving sprocket wheel.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tractor in which the invention has been embodied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the application of the lubricating system to the track roller frame assemblies of the tractor.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the principal portion of Fig. 3 with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the track roller construction.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the centralizing The view is taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. ll.

Fig. 7 is a cutaway view of the track roller i frame to show the method of mounting the mechanism of the lubricating system.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the operating device and the pipe connections.

Fig. 9 `is a plan viewofthe pump operating mechanism, certain parts being broken awa Fig. 1Q is a sectional view on the line I I0 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is an enlarged view of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 9. v'

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line |2--i2 in Fig. 11.

The invention is disclosed as embodied in a track-type tractor whrich comprises brieiy a power plant mounted on a pair of track mechanisms which are movable relatively to the power plant. Such a tractor is shown in Fig. 1 where the power plant of the tractor is indicated generally by reference numeral lli. The track mechanism on the right side of the machine is shown. and 'it comprises an endless track Il which passes around a track drive sprocket i2 at the rear'end of the machine and over a pair of guide rollers I3 and around an idler wheel Il, the axis of which is adjustable with respect to the axis of the sprocket wheel I2 to maintain the proper tension in the endless track Il. The idler wheel I6 and its bearings form part of an assembly indicated generally at i5, which assembly is guided for movement on the track roller frame I6 so that the idler wheel can be maintainedin the proper position to secure the desired tension in the endless track Ii, and also to permit the idler wheel I6 to recoil against suitable springs in case the track becomes clogged. This mechanism forms no part of the present invention and will not be described further. The track roller frame I6 is provided with a series of track rollers I8 which are provided with suitable bearings on stub shafts I9 secured in the track roller. frame I6.

The track mechanisms are similar. and, as shown in Fig. 2, the track roller frames I8 are provided with braces il; the track roller frames are pivoted about a common axis which axis is coincident with the axis of the track driving sprockets l2. track roller frames i6 are free to oscillate about their pivots and in so doing move relatively to the power plant I0. The front ends of the track roller frames I6 are interconnected by a suitable equalizer mechanism indicated at I 9' in Fig. 2,

It will be understood that the' which supports the front end of the power plant I0 in the usual manner.

The lubricating mechanism for the track roller frame assemblies consists of two similar units, one mounted on each track rollerframe. One of a housing directly behind the assembly I5 (Fig V l). The source of power for operating the unit is the track driving sprocket I2 adjacent thereto (Fig. 3) which is provided with pin |0.|. Lever |02 pivoted at |03'has its free end lying in the path of pin i 0| so that for each revolution of track driving sprocket |2, pin 0| oscillates lever l |02. This movement oi' lever |02 is utilized in a manner later described for operating a pump or pumps which discharge lubricant into a series of conduits ||2, ||3, ||4, H5, ||6, ||1, and I|8. Conduit leads to the bearing of the rearmost track roller I8 (Fig. 4). Conduit ||2 leads to the next track roller bearing. 'Conduit |.|3 leads tothe center track roller bearlngand conduits ||4 and ||5 lead to the two forward track roller bearings. Conduit ||6 leads to the idler wheel bearings. Conduit ||1 and ||8 lead to the bearings ofv the guide rollers.

The conduits to I I1 are provided with a protective housing secured to the web of the side channel of the track roller frame I6 by means of brackets |2|. In addition, a shield |22 shown in dotted line in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 2 is adapted to be attached to the side of the track roller frame assembly to further protect the conduits. The method of attaching this shield is disclosed in Fig. 5 which also illustrates the conduits within their housing |20.

Pump operating mechanism (Figs. 8 to 16) Lever |02 is keyed to the outer end of pivot shaft I 03 (Fig. II). Keyed to the inner end of shaft |03 is a yoke |25 which operates against a pair of springs shown in detail in Fig. 6 to resiliently maintain lever |02 in a position in which the lever is radial tothe sprocket wheel. It follows that the shaft |03 performs an oscillation during each revolution of the track driving sprocket I2 in either direction. Keyed to the central portion of shaft |03 (Figs. 11 and 12) is' a bail |26 ony which is mounted a spring-pressed pawl |21 which engages 'the teeth of a ratchet wheel |20 loosely mounted for rotation on shaft 03. Cooperating with ratchet pawl |21 is a detent |29 suitably mounted in the frame to prevent return movement of ratchet .wheel |23. The ratchet wheel has a step-by-step movement in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 12).

Slidably mounted in ratchet wheel |29 is a pin |30 which is spring-pressed to the left (Fig 14) to engagepne arm of a fork |3| pivotally mounted on shaft |03 as shown in Fig. 1l. 'I'he stem of the fork has a pivotal Lconnection at I 34 with a short link |35, having pivotal connection |36 with cross-head |31. Secured to an interm'ediate portion of fork stem |32 is a pin |40 upon the outer ends of which' are pivotally mounted vthe hubs |4| of a pair of stirrups |42 (Fig. l5) which engage compression springs |43, the upper ends of which engage in cups |44 se cured to housing |45. l

Secured to the top of housing |45 is a cam plate (Figs. 12, l3 and .14), the lower end of which is beveled and adapted to engage in a notch |5|' in pin |30. Notch III' has a beveled corner |52 to facilitate entrance of the beveled tip of plate |50 into notch |5|' to cause retraction of pin |30 against its spring. It will appear from inspection of Fig. 12 that at a certain point in the revolution of ratchet wheel |28, the notched end of pin 30 will be brought into engagement with the tip of cam plate |50. This occurs when the fork stem 32 is in the dotted line position which is the position in which the springs |43 are fully compressed.

Withdrawal of pin |30 (Fig. 14) from below fork arm |3| releases the fork which is now free to rotate about shaft |03 under the influence of compressed springs |43 which operate to quickly depress cross-head 3.1. This movement of crosshead |31 is utilized to actuate the pumps. It will be understood that the ratchet wheel |28 continuesto move stepvby step in a counter. clockwise direction (Fig. 12) and that after the pin |30 has been carried out of the vicinity-of cani plate |50, it returns to its normal projected position under the influence of its spring in which position it is operative to contactthe under side of fork |3| when next it engages it. This cycle of operation is repeated again and again and for each cycle of operation there is a sudden actuating force imparted to cross-head |31.

Pump mechanism (Figs. 10 to 16) Cross-head |31 has rigidly attached thereto a series of plungers |5|, |52, |53, |54, |55, |56, |51, and |58 (Fig. l2). Each plunger is adapted to reciprocate in a vertical bore provided therefor in block |53. Alignment of the plungers in the bores is assured by guiding the cross-head |31 relatively to block |59 by means of an extension |60 on cross-head |31 which is suitably guided on the rear face of block |59 and by means of an extension |6| on the forward end of block |59 in which the end of cross-head |31 is guided.

Housing |45 serves not only to protect the pump mechanism and the operating mechanism therefor but also as a reservoir for the lubricant which is introduced through the cap |62 (Fig. 10). Block |59 is provided with a series of inlet ports |65 (Fig. 16) each of which establishes communication between the plunger bore and `the exterior of block |59, or. in other words, to the reservoir of lubricant. Aseries of transverse passages are provided in the block |59, one for each bore, which constituterdelivery passages |1|,|12, |13, |14, |15, |16, |11, and |18. One of these passages is shown in detail in Fig. 16 where it will be seen that it terminates in a check valve |66 and is provided with a relief valve |61. It will be understood that each plunger and bore has associated with it an inlet port, a delivery passage, a relief valve and a check valve substantially as shown in Fig. 16. The conduits leading from the check lvalves |66 connect with the conduits ||2, |-|3, ||4, ||5, ||6, I|1, and ||8 (Fig. 8) so that each bearing is provided with a separate conduit and pump. 'By reference to Fig. 16, it will be seen that as cross-head |31 is reciprocated, lubricant will be drawn in through port |65 and discharged through check valve |66. If for any reason lubricant cannot be pumped past check valve |66, the relief valve |61 opens to protect the system and to give a visual indication of trouble.

In operation, the ratchet wheel |28 receives its step-bystep rotation from the sprocket-operated lever |02 and once during each revolutlonraises the fork |3| to withdraw the pump plungers from their bores and to load the springs |43, which, ir

turn, @use the discharge of the pumps when the 7 fork I3! is automatically released. The frequency of operation of the pumps is proportionalto the rate of rotation of the sprocket and, hence, to the speed of the vehicle.

We, therefore, 'claim as our invention:

l. The combination with a tractor having a track mechanism, including an endless track, roll ers running on the ground run of said track, and a sprocket for said track, of a device for lubricating said rollers, comprising a plurality of individual pumps, having plungers reciprocable in synchronism, operating means therefor comprising, a pin on said sprocket, a lever oscillated thereby, a pawl movable with said lever, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl, a detent for said ratchet wheel, and means to enable said ratchet Wheel during a Aportion of its revolution to move said plungers, and conduit means extending from said pumps to the bearings of said rollers.

2. The combination with a 'tractor having a track mechanism, including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, and a sprocket for said track, of a device for lubricating said rollers, comprising a plurality of individual pumps, having plungers reciprocable in synchronism, operating means therefor comprising., a pin on said sprocket, a lever oscillated thereby, a pawl movable with said lever, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl, a detent for said ratchet wheel, and means to enable said ratchet wheel during a portion of its revolution to move said plungers, including an element on said ratchet wheel, and a member operatively connected with said plungers, and conduit means extending from said pumps to the bearings of said rollers.

3. The combination with a tractor having a track mechanism, including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, and a sprocket for said track, of a device for lubricating said rollers, comprising a plurality of indi-V vidual pumps, having plungers reciprocable in synchronism, operating means therefor' comprising, a pin on said sprocket, alever oscillated thereby, a pawl movable with said lever, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl, a detent for said ratchet wheel, and means to enable said ratchet wheel during a portion of its revolution to move said plungers, including an element mounted on said ratchet .wheel and resiliently urged to operative position,

a membez` cooperating with said element, means operatively connecting said member with said plungers, and a device for rendering said element inoperable, and conduit means extending from said pumps to the bearings of said rollers.

4. The combination with a tractor having a track mechanism, 'including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, and a sprocket for said track, of a device for lubricating said rollers, comprising a plurality of individual pumps, having plungers reciprocable in synchronism, operating means therefor comprising, a pin on said sprocket, a lever oscillated thereby, a pawl movable with said lever, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl, a detenty for said ratchet Wheel, and means to enable said ratchet Wheel during a portion of its revolution to move said plungers, including a lever connected with said plungers, an element on said ratchet wheel adapted to contact said lever and to move said lever, and spring means operating to oppose movement of said lever by said element, and conduit means extending from said pumps to the bearings of said rollers.

5. The combination with a tractor having a track` mechanism, including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, and ya sprocket for said track, of a device for lubricating said rollers, comprising a plurality of individual pumps, having plungers reciprocable in synchronism, operating means therefor, comprising, a pin on said sprocket, a lever oscillated thereby, a pawl movable with said lever, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl, a detent for said ratchet wheel, and means to enable said ratchet wheel during a portion of its revolution to move said plungers, including a pin slidably mounted on said ratchet wheel. a lever connected with said plungers,`a spring urging said pin into the path of said lever, a spring opposing movement of said lever by said pin, and a cam device for withdrawing said pin from contact with said lever, and

conduit means extending from said pumps to the bearings of said rollers.

6. The combination with a tractor having a main frame and a track mechanism, including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, a sprocket for said track, and a track roller frame on which the rollers are mounted, said track roller frame being mounted for movement with respect to said main frame, of a lubricating system for said rollers, all parts of said system being mounted on said track roller frame, and including pumping means, and means for actuating said pumping means from a moving part of said track mechanism.

'7. The combination with a tractor having a main frame and a track mechanism, including an endless track, rollers running on the ground run of said track, a sprocket for said track, and a track roller frame on which the rollers are mounted, said track roller frame being mounted for movement with respect to said main frame, of a lubricating system for said rollers, said system comprising a lubricant reservoir on said track frame, pumping means mounted in said reservoir, conduit connections between said pumping means and said track rollers, and means for actuating said pumping means from a moving part of said track mechanism.

8. The combination with a tractor having a pair of track roller frames, each hinged for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane, track mechanism for each frame, including a sprocket wheel, an endless track about the frame, and.

v rollers adapted to run on said track and mounted on said frame, of a separate lubricating system for the rollers on each f1 me, comprising lubricant pumping means on each frame, conduit connections from said pumping means to said rollers, and means for operating each pumping means from a moving part ofthe track mechanism for a frame.

GEORGE W. HOPKINS, JR. ELMER E. WICKERSHAM. 

